Much of the time in the Hebrew Bible which Christians refer to as the Old Testament, the prophets are sharing God's word with the people about their current behavior. They are often calling them to task over their lack of faithfulness. Their impending calamity such as invasion or destruction can be laid at their own feet.
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| The sheer scope and size of the Egyptian buildings is impressive considering the limitations of their tools at that time. |
The author of Exodus offers no such rationale for why God's people have ended up as slaves. We are not told that they were worshiping Egyptian gods or even forgetting the widows and orphans among them.
They end up as slaves not through any fault of their own but because they lost their connection to the royal family. Who you know was just as important in that time as it is today.
As I think about my own privilege, I realize that I have lots of connections that helped me to be successful. They have also helped keep me out of trouble.
With Lent, we often reflect on what Christ has done for us. If we believe that Christ is working through others on our behalf (preceding or prevenient grace), then it might be a good reflection for you today to consider and give thanks to God for three people that have responded to that call.
They may not even think about it as a call - they may just have helped you.
But as people of faith, we look at this and name it as Christ working in them or through them.
Why not drop an email, text, Facebook message or tweet to these people today simply expressing your gratitude for them being in your life?
Picture by Internet Archive Book Images [No restrictions], via Wikimedia Commons
There are three folks from my past who walked so very closely with Christ that their faces glowed. They are gone now, but there are some today who I see helping the generation behind me. I can't write to those who led me, but I make this promise to you, that I will send notes to those I see who are making a difference to others now.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie. As you interpret how you see God at work in the present generation and encourage them to continue, it may be that they see God in you!
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